Mobile device accessory functioning as mouse pad, screen cleaner, wrist rest for keyboard and/or stand

ABSTRACT

A portable mobile device accessory is capable of being detachably attached to a mobile device. The mobile device accessory includes a cloth having a first surface which is to clean a surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and a polymer adhesive layer attached to the second surface of the cloth. The polymer adhesive layer has a tacky surface which includes a re-adherable strip of polymer adhesive designed for temporarily attaching the portable mobile device accessory to a surface of the mobile device. The portable mobile device accessory is capable of functioning as a surface cleaning cloth, a mouse pad, a wrist rest for a keyboard, a stand and/or a protector.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of and claimsall benefits from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/235,460 with afiling date of Sep. 18, 2011, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a portable mobile device accessorywhich functions as a mouse pad, a screen cleaning cloth, a writs restfor a keyboard, a stand and a protector for a mobile device.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional mouse pads are too big and thick to carry with a mobiledevice such as a smartphone, a laptop computer or a tablet PC.Previously, some have proposed a pull out mouse pad built into a laptop.U.S. Pat. No. 7,922,141 teaches a mouse pad apparatus that removablyattaches to a laptop computer via spaced apart flex clips affixed to oneside of the platform border. However, the conventional mouse pads needadditional apparatus to carry mouse pads. Most microfiber glasses orscreen cleaners are also hard to be carried on the laptop or tablet PCbecause they are just plain cloths. Users need to carry them on thecases separately. The conventional gel wrist mouse pads on the marketare too thick to be attached or carried on the laptop computer. Thus,mobile device accessories that can be easily carried and removablyattach to a surface such as a surface of a laptop computer or a tabletPC are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable mobiledevice accessory is capable of being detachably attached to a mobiledevice, The portable mobile device accessory includes: a cloth having afirst surface which is to clean a surface and a second surface oppositeto the first surface; and a polymer adhesive layer attached to thesecond surface of the cloth, the polymer adhesive layer having a tackysurface comprising a re-adherable strip (which can cover at least partof or an entire surface of the cloth) of polymer adhesive designed fortemporarily attaching the portable mobile device accessory to a surfaceof the mobile device, the portable mobile device accessory capable offunctioning as a surface cleaning cloth, a mouse pad and a wrist restfor a keyboard.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the cloth is amicrofiber.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the polymer adhesivelayer is formed of polyurethane or polyester.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the cloth has twoportions having different thicknesses, a protruded portion of the twoportions is used as a wrist rest, and the non-protruded portion of thetwo portions is used as a mouse pad.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the polymer adhesivelayer has two portions having different thicknesses, a protruded portionof the portable mobile device accessory is used as a wrist rest, and thenon-protruded portion of the portable mobile device accessory is used asa mouse pad.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a laptop computer hasthe portable mobile device accessory.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the portable mobiledevice accessory is detachably attached to an outside of the laptopcomputer.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the portable mobiledevice accessory includes a pair of the mobile device accessories, andthe pair of mobile device accessories is detachably attached below akeyboard of the laptop computer.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a tablet PC has theportable mobile device accessory.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable mobiledevice accessory includes: a microfiber having a first surface which isable to clean a surface and a second surface opposite to the firstsurface; and a polymer adhesive layer attached to the second surface ofthe microfiber, the polymer adhesive layer having a tacky surfacecomprising a re-adherable strip of polymer adhesive comprised of atleast one of polyurethane and polyester designed for temporarilyattaching the portable mobile device accessory to a surface of themobile device, the portable mobile device accessory capable offunctioning as a surface cleaning cloth, a mouse pad and a wrist restfor a keyboard.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable mobiledevice accessory capable of being detachably attached to a mobiledevice, includes: a first layer having a first surface and a secondsurface opposite to the first surface; and a polymer adhesive layerattached to the second surface of the cloth, the polymer adhesive layerhaving a tacky surface comprising a re-adherable strip of polymeradhesive designed for temporarily attaching the portable mobile deviceaccessory to a surface of the mobile device, the portable mobile deviceaccessory having at least one function of a surface cleaning function, amouse pad function and a wrist rest function.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first layer may beformed of material that has a surface enhancing the usability of amouse.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first layer may beformed of microfiber, and the portable mobile device accessory has asurface cleaning function.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first layer may beformed of gel or foam material, and the portable mobile device accessoryhas a wrist rest function.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the portable mobiledevice accessory is formed of a single piece having a surface cleaningfunction, a mouse pad function and a wrist rest function.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a mobile deviceaccessory, including: a cloth having a first surface which is to clean ascreen and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a polymeradhesive layer attached to the second surface of the cloth, the polymeradhesive layer having a tacky surface including a re-adherable strip ofpolymer adhesive designed for temporarily attaching the portable mobiledevice accessory to a surface of the mobile device; wherein the mobiledevice accessory has at least one of fold lines and a cut having a shapeto function as a stand for supporting the mobile device when the mobiledevice accessory is folded according to the fold lines and attached tothe mobile device, and/or when a cut portion of the mobile deviceaccessory is raised from the other part of the mobile device accessoryalong the cut and attached to the mobile device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the fold lines may bethree parallel lines including a first line, a third line, and a secondline between the first line and the third line so that the screencleaner has a T shape when the portable mobile device accessory isfolded.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the fold lines arelines of slits.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the accessory may haveportions having a smaller thickness than the thickness of the otherportions to form the fold lines.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the accessory has thecut.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the cut include a shapeof ∩, Λ, or

.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the cut includes ashape to make two portions opposite to each other raised from the otherportion to hold the mobile device between the two portions.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the cut has a shape ofH.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the mobile deviceaccessory has a shape corresponding to a shape of a rear surface of amobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a portable mobile device accessoryaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a portable mobile device accessoryaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a portable mobile device accessoryaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer accessory according to an embodiment ofthe present invention that attaches to a portion near a touch pad of alaptop computer.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portable mobile device accessory according to anembodiment of the present invention that attaches to an outer surface ofa laptop computer.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portable mobile device accessory according to anembodiment of the present invention that attaches to a tablet PC.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a portable mobile device accessory accordingto an embodiment of the present invention that can be used as a standfor supporting a mobile phone.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate a portable mobile device accessoryaccording to another embodiment of the present invention that can beused as a stand for supporting a mobile phone.

FIG. 9 illustrates a portable mobile device accessory according to anembodiment of the present invention that can be used for protecting acell phone from drops and scratches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more specifically withreference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that thefollowing descriptions of embodiments of this invention are presentedherein for purposes of illustration and description only; it is notintended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise formdisclosed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a portable mobiledevice accessory 10 includes a first layer 11 having a polymer adhesivelayer 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The material for the first layer 11 may be varied according to thepurposes of the portable mobile device accessory. For example, if theportable mobile device accessory 10 is intended to be used forscreen-cleaning, a first layer 11 may be formed of a material which canbe used for screen-cleaning for a keyboard, such as microfiber. If theportable mobile device accessory 10 is intended to be used as a mousepad, a first layer 11 may be formed of a material that has a surfaceenhancing the usability of a mouse such as fabric, plastics, recycledrubber tires, neoprene, silicone rubber, leather, glass, cork, wood,aluminum, stone and stainless steel, optionally with an additional layerof fabric bonded to the upper surface.

If the portable mobile device accessory 10 is intended to be used as awrist rest for a keyboard, a first layer 11 may be formed of a materialwhich can be used for a wrist rest for a keyboard, such as gel (e.g.,polyurethane gel covered in synthetic leatherette) or foam material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first layer 10is formed of a cloth. When the first layer 10 is formed of a cloth, theportable mobile device accessory is a multi-function accessoryfunctioning as a mouse pad, a screen cleaning cloth and a writs rest fora keyboard of a mobile device.

The term “mobile computer” or “mobile device” in the specification andthe claim section includes, but is not limited to a laptop computer, atablet PC, and a mobile phone.

The term “cloth” in the specification and the claim section means anymaterial which can be used for cleaning a screen or a surface of amobile device.

The term “detachably attached” to a surface in the specification and theclaim section means that a material has a re-adherable strip of adhesiveon one surface, designed for temporarily attaching a portable mobiledevice accessory to a certain surface.

The cloth can include, but not limited to, a microfiber.

The cloth can be die cut or cut into different sizes to be attached onanywhere of a mobile device such as a laptop computer or tablet PC.

Examples of material for the liquid polymer adhesive layer 12 includepolyurethane and polyester.

An exemplary method of forming the polymer adhesive layer is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,382 which is incorporated herein by reference.

For example, the polymer adhesive layer is formed as follows:

A liquid polymer adhesive is applied onto a surface 11A of the clothsuch that the liquid polymer adhesive spreads across and covers thecloth, and the liquid polymer adhesive is allowed to polymerize. Oncethe liquid polymer adhesive is allowed to polymerize, it forms thepolymer adhesive layer 12 which is permanently bonded with the clothsurface 11A. The polymer adhesive layer 12 provides a tacky surface 12Ato the cloth. The tacky surface 12A can form a temporary, removable bondwith the surface of a mobile device, and yet be readily peel-removedwithout harming the surface or leaving a residue. The tacky surface 12Aof the polymer adhesive layer 12 can also be washed with water to removedust and other contaminants to restore the tacky consistency of thepolymer adhesive layer 12.

Since the portable mobile device accessory 10 has a tacky surface 12A,it can be attached to anywhere of a mobile device.

Since the mobile device accessories 10 are thin, the laptop computer isclosed easily without removing the mobile device accessories 10.

For example, the thickness of the mobile device accessory according toan embodiment of the present invention is in the range of 0.5 mm to 5mm, for example, 0.5 mm to 3 mm, specifically, 1 mm to 3 mm.

The portable mobile device accessory 10 can be used as a screen cleaningcloth, a mouse pad and/or a wrist rest.

To be used as a screen cleaning cloth, the portable mobile deviceaccessory 10 detachably attached to a mobile device is peeled off fromthe mobile device, and the detached cloth 10 can be used for getting ridof dust or finger print on the screen.

Once it is cleaned, the portable mobile device accessory 10 can beattached to the original position or anywhere of laptop/tablet PC.

To be used as a wrist rest mouse pad, the portable mobile deviceaccessory according to an embodiment of the present invention can bemodified as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B. That is, the cloth 11 may have twodifferent thicknesses as shown in FIG. 3A. Alternatively, the polymeradhesive layer 12 may have two different thicknesses as shown in FIG.3B. The protruded surface 11C can function as a wrist rest, and thenon-protruded portion 11B can function as a mouse pad.

To be used as a wrist rest for a keyboard, a single portable mobiledevice accessory may be detachably attached right below a keyboard ofthe laptop computer. If there is a touch pad right below a keyboard, aplurality (e.g., a pair) of the mobile device accessories 10 may bedetachably attached right below a keyboard of the laptop computer 31 asshown in FIG. 4.

As described above, the tacky surface of the portable mobile deviceaccessory according to an embodiment of the present invention can bewashed (for example, with water or wet-towel) to clean the tackysurface, and the cloth surface can be washed as well. Accordingly, theportable mobile device accessory can be used long without losing thetackiness.

When the mobile device accessories are positioned as shown in FIG. 4,they can function as a screen cleaning cloth, a (wrist rest) mouse padand a wrist rest for a keyboard. However, the attached position and thenumber of the pieces of the portable mobile device accessories can bevaried according to a user's preference. For example, the portablemobile device accessory can be attached only to a right next to a touchpad of a laptop computer for a purpose of a (wrist rest) mouse pad aswell as screen-cleaning.

Alternatively or additionally, the portable mobile device accessory 10can be detachably attach to an outside surface of a laptop computer 31as shown in FIG. 5.

Likewise, when the portable mobile device accessory 10 is used for atablet PC, it can be attached to any surface of a tablet PC. FIG. 4shows one example of a tablet PC 32 having a portable mobile deviceaccessory 10.

Thus, a portable mouse pad, screen cleaner and wrist rest (three-in-one)can be carried easily on a mobile device such as a laptop computer and atable PC.

Even though it is one product, it can be used as three differentproducts at the same time.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an accessory70 can be used a screen cleaner as well as a stand. The accessory 70that can be used a screen cleaning cloth may have fold lines so that itcan have a T shape when it is folded according to the fold line. Forexample, the fold lines may include three vertical lines 71, 72, 73 asshown in FIG. 7A. The fold line may be any line to make the screencleaner easily folded according to the fold lines. For example, the foldlines may be line of small slits so that the screen cleaner can beeasily folded. For example, the fold line may be a portion of the screencleaning cloth in which the thickness of the screen cleaning cloth issmaller than that of the other parts of the screen cleaner. The thinnerthickness may be made when the screen cleaner is made, or by pressingthe portion of the screen cleaner. Alternatively, the fold line may bemade by keeping the screen cleaner folded for long so that it may have atendency to be reverted into the folded shape when it is unfolded.

FIG. 7B illustrates how the screen cleaner can be used as a stand forsupporting a mobile phone. To be used as a screen cleaning cloth, theaccessory 70 detachably attached to a mobile device (S1) is peeled offfrom the mobile device, and the detached cloth 70 can be used forgetting rid of dust or finger print on the screen. (S2)

Once it is cleaned, the accessory 70 can be attached to the originalposition or anywhere of laptop/tablet PC or a mobile phone.

To be used as a stand, the accessory 70 having three vertical fold lines71, 72, 73 is folded by simply attaching the fold line 71 and the foldline 73 to make it T shape. (S3 and S4) The T-shaped accessory is placedon the lower middle part of the mobile device such as a smartphone withpush/snap. (S5 and S6)

Examples of material for the accessory include polyurethane andpolyester.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the accessory70 has a first surface which is to clean a surface and a second surfaceto which a polymer adhesive layer with a re-adherable strip of polymeradhesive designed for temporarily attaching the mobile device accessoryto a surface of the mobile device, the accessory has a tacky surface sothat it can be attached to anywhere of a mobile device. When theaccessory loose stickiness, it can be washed off the dust with water orwet-towel. (S7)

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an accessory80 can be used as a screen cleaner as well as a stand. The accessory 80that can be used a screen cleaning cloth may have a cut. The cut has ashape to make the portion of the accessory support a mobile device whenthe cut portion is raised from the other part of the accessory 80.Exemplary shapes of the cut include ∩, Λ, or

, but are not limited thereto. To more securely hold the mobile device,the cut may have a shape so that two portions opposite to each other areraised to hold the mobile device 82. For example, the cut 81 may have anH shape as shown in FIG. 8A, but is not limited thereto. FIG. 8B is aside view when the screen cleaning cloth is used as a stand, and 8Cillustrate how the accessory can be used as a screen cleaner as well asa stand.

FIG. 9 illustrates a portable mobile device accessory according to anembodiment of the present invention that can be used for protecting amobile device from drops and scratches.

For example, when the accessory has a shape corresponding to a shape ofa mobile device, the accessory may have a function of protecting amobile device from drops and scratches. For example, the above-mentionedembodiments may have the shape corresponding to the mobile device, theaccessory may function as a screen cleaner, a stand, and a protector.

With the present invention, a user has a mouse pad, screen cleaner andwrist rest on the go with easy carrying mechanism. A user does not needto carry a separate microfiber cloth on a case. There is no more hassleto carry thick and big mouse pad or wrist rest separately on the briefcase. This is a very simple one piece product that could be attached onthe laptop or tablet pc to be carried every day.

While the invention has been described in terms of what are presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures. Therefore, the above description and illustration should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is definedby the appended claims.

1. A portable mobile device accessory capable of being detachablyattached to a mobile device, comprising: a cloth having a first surfacewhich is to clean a screen and a second surface opposite to the firstsurface, wherein the cloth is a single layer; and a polymer adhesivelayer of a single layer formed of polyurethane or polyester attacheddirectly to the second surface of the cloth, the polymer adhesive layerhaving a tacky surface for temporarily attaching the portable mobiledevice accessory to a surface of the mobile device, the portable mobiledevice accessory capable of functioning as at least two of a surfacecleaning cloth, a mouse pad and a wrist rest for a keyboard.
 2. Theportable mobile device accessory of claim 1, wherein the cloth is amicrofiber.
 3. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 1, whereinthe polymer adhesive layer is formed of polyurethane.
 4. The portablemobile device accessory of claim 1, wherein the polymer adhesive layeris formed of polyester.
 5. The portable mobile device accessory of claim1, wherein the cloth has two portions having different thicknesses, aprotruded portion of the two portions is used as a wrist rest, and thenon-protruded portion of the two portions is used as a mouse pad.
 6. Theportable mobile device accessory of claim 1, wherein the polymeradhesive layer has two portions having different thicknesses, aprotruded portion of the portable mobile device accessory is used as awrist rest, and the non-protruded portion of the portable mobile deviceaccessory is used as a mouse pad.
 7. A laptop computer having theportable mobile device accessory of claim
 1. 8. The laptop computer ofclaim 7, wherein the portable mobile device accessory is detachablyattached to an outside of the laptop computer.
 9. The laptop computer ofclaim 7, wherein the portable mobile device accessory comprises a pairof the mobile device accessories, and the pair of mobile deviceaccessories are detachably attached below a keyboard of the laptopcomputer.
 10. A tablet PC having the portable mobile device accessory ofclaim
 1. 11. A portable mobile device accessory capable of beingdetachably attached to a mobile device, comprising: a first layer havinga first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, thefirst layer comprising microfiber; and a polymer adhesive layer attacheddirectly to the second surface of the first layer, the polymer adhesivelayer having a tacky surface for temporarily attaching the portablemobile device accessory to a surface of the mobile device, the polymeradhesive layer of a single layer formed of polyurethane or polyester,the portable mobile device accessory having at least one function of asurface cleaning function, a mouse pad function and a wrist restfunction.
 12. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 11, whereinthe first layer comprises material that has a surface enhancing theusability of a mouse.
 13. The portable mobile device accessory of claim11, wherein the first layer comprises microfiber, and the portablemobile device accessory has a surface cleaning function.
 14. (canceled)15. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 11, wherein theportable mobile device accessory has the surface cleaning function, themouse pad function and the wrist rest function.
 16. The portable mobiledevice accessory of claim 11, wherein the portable mobile deviceaccessory has a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
 17. A mobiledevice accessory, comprising: a cloth having a first surface which is toclean a screen and a second surface opposite to the first surface,wherein the cloth is a single layer; and a polymer adhesive layerattached directly to the second surface of the cloth by applying aliquid polymer adhesive to the second surface and polymerizing theapplied liquid polymer adhesive to be permanently bonded with the secondsurface, the polymer adhesive layer formed of polyurethane or polyester,the polymer adhesive layer having a tacky surface for temporarilyattaching the portable mobile device accessory to a surface of a mobiledevice; wherein the mobile device accessory has fold lines, a cut, or acombination thereof, said fold lines, cut or the combination thereofhaving a shape to make the mobile device accessory function as a standfor supporting the mobile device when the mobile device accessory isfolded according to the fold lines and detachably attached to the mobiledevice, and/or when a portion of the mobile device accessory is raisedfrom the other part of the mobile device accessory along the cut anddetachably attached to the mobile device; and wherein the mobile deviceis a mobile phone.
 18. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 17,wherein the portable mobile device accessory has the fold lines.
 19. Theportable mobile device accessory of claim 18, wherein the fold lines arethree parallel lines comprising a first line, a third line, and a secondline between the first line and the third line so that the screencleaner has a T shape when the portable mobile device accessory isfolded.
 20. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 18, whereineach of the fold lines comprises at least one slit wherein each of theone or more slits is smaller than the length of the fold line.
 21. Theportable mobile device accessory of claim 18, wherein the accessory hasportions having a smaller thickness than the thickness of the otherportions to form the fold lines.
 22. The portable mobile deviceaccessory of claim 17, wherein the accessory has the cut.
 23. Theportable mobile device accessory of claim 22, wherein the cut includes ashape of ∩, Λ, or

.
 24. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 22, wherein the cutincludes a shape to make two portions opposite to each other raised fromthe other portion to hold the mobile device between the two portions.25. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 22, wherein the cuthas a shape of H.
 26. The portable mobile device accessory of claim 17,wherein the mobile device accessory has a rectangular shape. 27.(canceled)
 28. (canceled)
 29. A mobile phone having the portable mobiledevice accessory of claim
 17. 30. The portable mobile device accessoryof claim 1, wherein the polymer adhesive layer is directly attached tothe second surface of the cloth by applying a liquid polymer adhesive tothe second surface and polymerizing the applied liquid polymer adhesiveto be permanently bonded with the second surface.
 31. The portablemobile device accessory of claim 1, consisting essentially of the clothand the polymer adhesive layer.
 32. The portable mobile device accessoryof claim 11, consisting essentially of the first layer and the polymeradhesive layer.
 33. The mobile device accessory of claim 17, consistingessentially of the cloth and the polymer adhesive layer.